THE LOCALS
ASK A BARTENDER
What to Know about Wine
WITH BARTENDER CHRIS MORRIS
WHAT STRATEGIES DO YOU USE FOR SUGGESTING WINE? I think the two most important things to establish are the guest’s likes and budget. Sometimes that requires more advanced knowledge about wine in general (different regions, climates, styles, famous wines). It can also be as simple as wanting a midpriced dry white to drink on the patio. Once that’s established, the rest is all about context. What are they eating? Special occasion? Date night? Tuesday Happy Hour? There are wines across the spectrum. With a bit of knowledge about the wines you carry, it’s as easy as pairing budget and likes to need.
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ommelier turned bartender Chris Morris has been working behind the bar for over ten years. Based in Houston, Texas, Morris has worked at many bars and restaurants in a range of roles. Recently he held the position of head bartender at Hunky Dory and bartender at Kau Ba. For Morris, his background in wine has become a useful tool for suggesting, selling and serving wine behind the bar.
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CHILLED MAGAZINE
WHAT SHOULD BARTENDERS KNOW ABOUT WINE OPTIONS? At a bare minimum, it would be what wines you carry by the glass, the grapes (varietals) of those wines, and where those wines come from. Ideally, you should also know the vintages and some tasting notes or quick stories about them if possible. It doesn’t take much. A lot of guests are just as intimidated or haven’t had the exposure you’ve had either. Having a working knowledge can set them at ease.
WHAT TIPS CAN YOU GIVE FOR READING A LABEL? This can get complex depending on where in the world you are. New World wines (USA, Australia, etc.) generally have all the relevant information on the labels, so they’re somewhat easy to identify. The Old World (France, Italy, etc.) is much more likely to simply put the region it came from, and it’s up to the consumer to understand that. That’s one of the reasons why wine can seem so intimidating in the first place. One tip when looking at Old World bottles is to look for some sort of geographic certification (AOC in France, DOCG in Italy, etc.), which varies by country. Still, its certification stating this wine is typical of the region. That means at least you’re getting something that tastes consistent, as opposed to a grab bag. There are some fun wines outside of those boundaries, particularly when regulations get involved, but those require a bit more research to get to.
